SANTA     CRUZ 


Gift  of 
MARION   R.   WALKER 

in  memory  of  his  grandfather 

THE  HON.  MARION  CANNON 

M.C.  1892-94 


SANTA     CRUZ 


-  I  O 

^x  » * 


• 


MEMORIAL  ADDRESSES 


ON   THE 


LIFE    AND    CHARACTER 


MELBOURNE    H.   FORD, 

A  REPRESENTATIVE  FROM  MICHIGAN, 


DELIVERED   IN   THE 


HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  AND  IN  THE  SENATE, 


FIFTY-SECOND     CONORESS. 


PUBLISHED  BY  ORDER  OF  CONGRESS. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT     PRINTING     OFFICE. 
1893. 


Resolved  by  the  House  of  Representatives  (the  Senate  concurring),  That  there 
be  printed  of  the  eulogies  delivered  iu'Cougress  upon  the  Hon.  MK.usoruNE 
H.  FORD,  late  a  Representative  from  the  State  of  Michigan,  eight  thousand 
copies,  of  which  two  thousand  copies  shall  be  delivered  to  the  Representa- 
tives and  Senators  of  that  State,  and  of  the  remaining  number,  two  thou- 
sand copies  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the  Senate  and  four  thousand  copies  for 
the  nse  of  the  House.  And  of  the,  quota  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
the  Public  Printer  shall  set  aside  fifty  copies  which  he  shall  have  bound 
in  full  morocco  with  gilt  edges,  the  same  to  be  delivered  when  complete 
to  the  family  of  the  deceased.  And  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  is 
hereby  directed  to  have  engraved  and  printed,  at  the  earliest  day  possi- 
ble, a  portrait  of  the  above  to  accompany  said  eulogies. 

Agreed  to  in  the  House  of  Representatives  February  14,  1893. 

Agreed  to  in  the  Senate  February  14,  1893. 


t 


PROCEEDINGS  IN  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 


ANNOUNCEMENT  OF  DEATH. 

DECEMBER  19,  1891. 

Mr.  CHIPMAN,  of  Michigan.  Mr.  Speaker,  in  accordance  with 
the  request  of  the  delegation  from  the  State  of  Michigan,  the 
duty  devolves  upon  me  to  announce  to  this  House  the  death, 
on  the  2lst  day  of  April  last,  of  Hon.  MELBOURNE  H.  FORD,  a 
member  of  Congress  from  the  State  of  Michigan.  He  died  very 
suddenly,  in  the  fresh  maturity  of  his  very  remarkable  powers; 
and  in  his  death  the  brilliant  future,  of  which  his  past  career 
gave  promise,  has  been  cut  off.  His  obsequies  were  attended 
by  a  multitude  of  citizens  of  the  thriving  and  beautiful  city  in 
which  he  resided,  and  by  representative  men  not  only  from 
the  State  of  Michigan  but  from  other  States  of  the  Union. 

This  is  not  a  proper  occasion  to  eater  upon  a  eulogy  of  Mr. 
FORD'S  career.  He  served  in  the  Legislature  of  his  State.  He 
served  on  this  floor,x  where  he  was  known,  respected,  and 
beloved  by  many  gentlemen  who  are  members  of  the  present 
Congress.  I  will  content  myself  at  present  with  simply  and 
reverently  announcing  to  the  House  the  sad  fact  of  his  death, 
and  on  another  occasion  will  ask  that  opportunity  be  given  to 
members  of  this  body  who  admired  and  loved  him  to  pay 
tribute  to  his  memory.  I  ask  the  adoption  of  the  resolution 
which  I  send  to  the  desk. 

3 


4  Proceedings  in  the  House  of  Representatives. 

The  Clerk  read  as  follows : 

Whereas  the  House  has  heard  with  profound  sorrow  of  the  death  of  Hon. 
MELBOURNE  H.  FORD,  late  a  Representative  from  the  State  of  Michigan  : 
Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  his  memory  the  House  do  now  ad- 
journ. 

Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  communicate  these  resolutions  to  the  Senate. 

The  resolutions  were  adopted ;  and,  in  accordance  therewith, 
the  House  (at  12:37  p.  in.)  adjourned  until  Wednesday  next. 


APRIL  9,  1392. 

Mr.  BELKNAP.    Mr.  Speaker,  I  ask  for  the  regular  order. 
The  SPEAKER.     The  Clerk  will  read  the  special  order  for  this 
day. 
The  Clerk  read  as  follows : 

Resolved,  That  Saturday,  April  9,  beginning  at  2  o'clock  p.  m.,  be  set 
apart  for  paying  tribute  to  the  memory  of  Hon.  MELBOURNE  H.  FORD,  late  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  from  the  Fifth  district  of  Michigan. 

Mr.  BELKNAP.  Mr.  Speaker,  I  offer  the  resolutions  which  I 
send  to  the  desk. 

The  resolutions  were  read,  as  follows : 

Resolved,"  That  the  business  of  the  House  be  now  suspended,  that  oppor- 
tunity may  be  given  for  a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  Hon.  MKUIOVRXK 
H.  FORD,  late  a  Representative  from  the  State  of  Michigan. 

Resolved,  That,  as  a  particular  mark  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  de- 
ceased, and  in  recognition  of  his  eminent  abilities  as  a  public  servant,  the 
House  at  the  conclusion  of  these  memorial  proceedings  shall  stand  ad- 
journed. 

Hrxolved,  That  the  Clerk  communicate  these  resolutions  to  the  Senate. 

Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  be  instructed  to  send  a  copy  of  these  resolu- 
tions to  the  family  of  the  deceased. 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford. 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  O'DONNELL  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Mr.  Speaker,  the  frequent  assignment  of  days  in  which  the 
course  of  business  is  suspended  in  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives to  pay  tribute  to  the  worth  of  departed  members  of  the 
Fifty-second  Congress  who  have  gone  to  the  silent  continents 
of  eternity  furnish  impressive  lessons  of  the  mutability  of 
human  affairs,  the  uncertainty  of  life,  and  the  certainty  of 
death.  Since  my  service  in  this  House  many  have  been  sum- 
moned from  the  activities  of  being  to  the  stillness  of  the  grave. 
What  a  roll  of  names  that  can  make  answer  only  from  the 
silent  depths  of  memory!  In  the  present  Congress  what  a 
membership  have  gone  to  the  solemn  shades ! 

Since  Michigan  became  a  State  five  of  its  members  in  this 
House  and  two  Senators  have  died  in  office.  The  latter  were 
Kinsley  S.  Bingham,  one  of  our  early  statesmen,  who  died  in 
1861,  and  Zachariah  Chandler,  the  great  war  Senator,  unex- 
pectedly taken  from  earth  in  1879.  Of  the  members  of  the 
House  whose  terms  were  closed  by  death  were  Edward  Brad- 
ley, died  in  1847,  before  taking  his  seat;  Wilder  D.  Foster, 
who  passed  away  in  1872;  Alpheus  S.  Williams,  summoned 
hence  in  1878 ;  Seth  C.  Moffatt,  suddenly  called  in  1887 ;  and 
the  fifth  and  last  of  the  list  of  Michigan's  representatives 
released  from  duty  by  death  was  MELBOURNE  H.  FORD,  whose 
memory  we  honor  to-day,  and  who  was  numbered  with  the  dead 
less  than  a  year  ago,  April  20,  1891. 

Mr.  FORD  was  born  in  Saline,  Mich.,  June  30, 1849.  My  first 
acquaintance  with  him  began  in  my  own  city,  where  he  was 
employed  as  a  clerk.  I  remember  that  the  duties  of  the  clerk- 
ship were  performed  faithfully  and  acceptably  by  the  youth. 
When  he  had  given  up  the  humble  position  he  departed,  and 


6          Address  of  Mr.  O*  Donnell,  of  Michigan,  on  the 

I  did  not  meet  him  again  until  the  winter  of  1887  in  this  Hall, 
when  he  came  to  enter  upon  the  duties  of  a  Representative  in 
the  Fiftieth  Congress. 

Mr.  FORD  commenced  his  education  at  the  Agricultural  Col- 
lege at  Lansing,  and  while  there  received  the  appointment  of 
naval  cadet  at  Annapolis.  He  pursued  the  studies  at  that 
historic  school  for  a  few  months.  The  young  man  desired  to 
serve  his  country.  He  had  not  attained  the  years  on  entering 
the  Academy  to  be  enrolled  among  the  country's  defenders, 
but  after  a  time  he  joined  the  naval  forces,  and  saw  a  little 
service  before  the  ordeal  of  war  was  fully  ended.  He  was  per- 
mitted to  be  a  participant  in  the  great  struggle  that  made 
ambition  virtue  and  repaid  the  nation  in  following  the  profes- 
sion for  which  it  had  partially  educated  him. 

When  peace  was  restored  he  quitted  the  Navy  and  turned 
his  talents  to  the  conquests  of  peace,  studied  law,  and  was 
admitted.  He  never  practiced  that  profession,  but  served 
many  courts  in  another  capacity  than  that  of  advocate  or  coun- 
sel. He  ranked  among  the  most  proficient  of  stenographers 
and  enjoyed  the  work.  He  held  but  two  elective  positions,  both 
legislative.  In  1884  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  lower 
house  of  the  Michigan  Legislature,  being  accredited  to  that 
branch  by  the  great  manufacturing  city  of  the  State.  He  soon 
gave  evidence  of  decided  ability,  his  service  being  so  accept 
able  that  he  was  rewarded  in  1886  by  an  election  to  this  House. 

During  the  term  here  he  exhibited  application  and  industry, 
accomplishing  much  for  his  constituency  and  district.  He 
sought  bylaw  to  stay  the  tide  of  immigration  of  the  tin  worthy 
to  our  shores;  to  elevate  American  eiti/enship,  and  debar  dan- 
gerous elements  coming  here;  to  close  the  door  to  those  not 
fitted  for  our  institutions.  His  design  was  misunderstood.  He 
had  reared  a  structure  to  protect  his  country.  This  was  lev- 
eled by  those  whom  it  was  intended  to  assist,  and  in  the  ruins 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  7 

was  the  political  hope  of  the  promoter  of  the  legislation.  He 
learned  the  instability  of  public  opinion ;  that  it  is  ever  chang- 
ing. He  accepted  the  verdict  with  composure. 

In  the  Legislature  of  Michigan  the  member^  of  the  political 
party  with  which  he  was  identified  paid  hini  the  compliment  of 
making  him  their  candidate  for  United  States  Senator. 

He  retired  from  this  House  at  the  end  of  his  term,  disap- 
pointed at  the  lack  of  recognition  on  the  part  of  the  constituency 
whom  he  had  desired  to  benefit.  The  interregnum  between 
elections  passed,  and  in  1890  he  was  again  nominated  for  Con- 
gress, to  share  in  the  astounding  victories  of  his  party  in  that 
year  of  surprising  results.  Public  opinion  that  two  years  be- 
fore had  cast  him  down  now  triumphantly  designated  him 
again  as  a  Representative  in  Congress.  He  stood  once  more 
in  the  sunshine  of  success.  The  lesson  of  public  life  is  difficult 
to  con  by  those  whose  philosophy  is  the  welfare  of  others. 
The  issue  of  that  contest  restored  Mr.  FORD  to  his  place  among 
the  leaders  of  his  party  in  the  Peninsular  State  and  he  planned 
to  serve  his  people  more  efficiently  than  before. 

In  the  brief  period  of  forty-seven  days  after  the  beginning  of 
his  tenure  as  a  member  of  the  Fifty-second  Congress  he  was 
suddenly  summoned  from  earth  by  death,  the  grim  messenger 
striking  the  fatal  blow  without  warning.  On  Sunday  night, 
April  19,  1891,  he  sought  repose,  and  in  that  strange  and 
solemn  interval  of  time,  the  twilight  of  the  morning,  in  the 
violet  dawn,  he  was  stricken  with  the  malady  which  in  a  few 
hours  removed  him  from  the  scenes  of  earth.  He  never  recov- 
ered consciousness  from  the  attack.  He  saw  not  the  sorrow- 
ing wife  and  children  and  grieving  friends  about  that  couch  of 
death,  but  quietly  stepped  from  the  harassing  cares  of  the 
present  into  the  realm  of  eternal  rest  and  peace. 

The  20th  of  last  April  was  a  day  of  sadness  at  Grand 
Eapids,  his  home.  The  wave  of  sorrow  was  felt  all  over  Michi- 


8          Address  of  Mr.  0'  Donnell,  of  Michigan,  on  the 

gan.  At  the  funeral  the  affection  of  the  people  and  their 
mourning  for  his  demise  were  manifested  in  many  ways.  The 
Legislature  of  the  State  attended  in  a  body,  business  was  sus- 
pended, and  as  the  remains  lay  in  state  at  the  City  Hall,  amid 
the  flowers  of  awakening  spring,  thousands  with  moist  eyes 
looked  upon  the  placid  countenance  of  the  dead. 

The  bereavement  was  expressed  so  general  that  it  seemed 
those  sealed  ears  might  hear.  Amid  the  somber  trappings  of 
woe,  the  quiet  procession  of  bereaved  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances, as  I  looked  it  seemed  to  me  there  was  that  strange  re- 
flection of  a  light  that  never  was  on  land  or  sea  touching  and 
brightening  the  still  features  into  a  look  of  hope  and  peaceful 

joy- 

A  great  city's  heart  throbbed  with  grief  that  he  was  taken. 
The  inanimate  form  was  conveyed  from  its  home  on  earth  to 
its  final  home,  followed  by  a  great  concourse,  and  in  the  silent 
city,  on  that  April  day,  when  nature  was  awakening  in  the 
vividness  of  renewed  life,  when  the  long  day  of  the  year  had 
dawned  upon  spring,  all  that  was  mortal  was  tenderly  laid 
to  rest  by  loving,  fraternal  hands;  the  grave  closed  over  this 
young  life.  At  the  obsequies  the  workingmen  of  the  city  re- 
quested that  the  factories  be  silent  that  day  in  order  that  they 
might  pay  their  tribute  to  the  memory  of  one  they  esteemed  so 
well  in  life.  I  believe  our  dead  friend  would  have  asked  no 
sweeter  rosemary  for  remembrance  than  this  act  of  the  indus- 
trial forces  at  his  home.  Could  he  have  looked  down  from  the 
calm  heights  of  eternity  he  would  have  reali/ed  that  useful 
lives  here  are  not  forgotten. 

Mr.  Speaker,  as  I  saw  those  marks  of  respect  to  his  memory 
in  that  great  mart  of  trade,  while  ga/ing  upon  the  coffined 
lineaments  of  our  friend  and  associate,  there  came  to  me  the 
tender  thought  once  spoken  of  another: 

Thou  earnest  into  tho  world  wwpinj:.  while  all  :inminl  thee  were  smil- 
ing, and  thoii  leave^t  ilir  \\urld  Miiilinvc,  while  all  alimit  thee  are  in  tears. 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  9 

Mr.  FORD  lived  not  guite  forty-two  years.  In  this  limited 
period  he  accomplished  much.  In  the  swift  pilgrimage  "from 
the  rosy  dawn  of  birth  to  death's  sad  night"  he  wrought  for 
others  more  than  for  himself.  I  knew  him  well  during  his 
service  here,  and  soon  discovered  his  strong  convictions  on 
public  questions,  and  his  consistent  advocacy  thereof.  This 
spirit  distinguished  him  to  the  end  of  his  too  brief  life.  His 
tastes  were  social  as  well  as  literary,  and  those  who  knew  him 
here  were  inspired  with  confidence  and  friendship.  His  work 
in  this  Capital  won  success,  gained  by  ability,  fidelity,  and 
industry. 

Reflecting  over  the  vanished  life  now  passed  on,  let  us 
remember,  as  was  said  by  Lucretius  centuries  agone : 

Life  is  given  to  no  one  for  a  lasting  possession;  to  all  for  use. 

Mr.  Speaker,  I  have  sketched  the  life  and  public  service  of 
our  departed  associate,  how  he  labored  for  his  people  and  the 
nation.  His  strong  character,  enlarged  views,  application,  and 
native  ability  displayed  while  a  member  here  brought  him  rec- 
ognition and  prominence  in  the  country.  Those  who  noted 
that  .career  as  it  developed  in  this  Hall  lament  that  he  was  too 
early  summoned  to  the  other  world  by  death. 

In  paying  this  tribute  to  my  dead  friend  and  colleague  my 
iniiid  recalls  a  solemn  scene  in  this  Chamber  on  February  29, 
1888,  when  he  spoke  words  of  sorrowing  regret  over  the  death 
of  another  departed  member  from  Michigan,  Mr.  Moffatt,  who, 
like  the  subject  of  our  service  to-day,  had  crossed  the  dark 
river  and  entered  the  portals  of  eternity.  He,  too,  had  been 
almost  as  suddenly  summoned  from  life.  We  looked  upon  him 
one  day  well  and  strong,  and  in  a  few  hours  we  saw  on  his 
face  the  wondrous  seal  of  everlasting  peace.  In  Mr.  FORD'S 
eulogy  of  our  dead  colleague  he  uttered  that  gem  imbedded 
in  the  language  of  every  people,  "  say  naught  of  the  dead  un- 


10       Address  of  Mr.  O* Donnell,  of  Michigan^  on  tJic 

less  good."    In  that  fitting  address  he  foreshadowed  his  belief 
in  the  future  life  in  these  words : 

That  there  is  a  hereafter  every  man,  it  seems  to  me,  must  believe.  I 
can  not  conceive  how  anyone  with  human  instincts  can  think  otherwise. 
If  there  exists  a  person  who  honestly  believes  that  when  his  eyes  are  closed 
in  death  nothing  remains,  then,  I  say,  snch  a  person  is  to  be  pitied.  Can  it 
be  that  at  the  conclusion  of  man's  existence  on  this  planet  for  a  compara- 
tively infinitesimal  period  of  time — can  it  be,  I  say,  that  when  dust  is  ren- 
dered into  dust,  all  is  ended?  No. 

No  word  comes  back.  We  know  not  what  awaits  us.  Still,  I  have  some- 
thing here  in  my  innermost  soul  which  tells  me  that  this  life  is  not  the 
end ;  that  beyond  all  this  we  have  a  wider,  a  higher,  a  nobler  destiny. 
There  lies  in  the  human  breast  a  something  which  says,  "This  is  not  all." 
What  an  encouraging  hope,  what  a  divine  thing  it  is  for  this  world,  this 
belief  in  a  future  existence. 

To  repeat  the  words  of  our  departed  friend,  spoken  here 
four  years  since,  for  him  we  trust  in  that  "encouraging  hope" 
he  gave  of  his  "belief  in  a  future  existence"  and  are  glad- 
dened by  the  conviction  that  with  him  it  is  well.  In  the  celes- 
tial economy  no  ray  of  light  is  left  to  wander  aimlessly.  His 
good  deeds  are  treasured  in  the  archives  of  eternity.  We 
rejoice  that  back  of  death's  semblance  is  the  potency  of  a 
splendid  new  birth. 

I  have  read  that  "man's  best  monument  must  be  found  in 
human  hearts  that  swell  at  mention  of  his  name,  but  speak 
not  in  a  public  place."  How  true  is  this.  Can  we  receive  a 
finer  garland  than  is  woven  from  the  un remembered  acts  of 
kindness!  Human  sympathy  is  like  the  summer  rain  "  which 
makes  the  fields  it  hastens  to  bright  and  green." 

This  young  life  is  closed.  We  pause  to-day  to  speak  of  the 
work  he  undertook,  the  tasks  he  accomplished,  of  his  best  en- 
deavor. As  the  sketch  is  completed  we  invoke  a  benediction 
from  the  world  beyond,  turning  to  those  tender  words  of  New- 
man, which  are  held  hopeful  for  the  dead  and  helpful  ;m<l 
worthy  for  the  living: 

Lead,  kindly  Light. 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  11 

We  stand  dumb  in  deciphering  the  mystery  of  death — why 
this  life  was  so  soon  and  so  suddenly  abridged.  It  is  not  given 
to  us  to  explain  why  this  career,  so  well  endowed  by  nature 
and  so  full  of  promise,  should  be  thus  early  terminated.  This 
problem  for  centuries  has  not  been  solved. 

Our  friend  and  colleague  is  no  more.  For  those  who  remain 
the  star  of  the  future  which  shines  in  the  horizon  is  Hope; 
there  is  never  more  night  than  day. 

And  now  we  leave  him  in  his  dreamless  sleep.     Farewell! 

Sleep  'till  the  shadows  take 

Their  endless  flight; 
Until  the  morning  break —  . 

Goodnight!  goodnight! 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  YOUMANS,  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Mr.  Speaker,  I  can  not  permit  this  opportunity  to  pass 
without  paying  my  tribute  to  the  memory  of  MELBOURNE  H. 
FORD. 

In  reviewing  the  life  of  Mr.  FORD,  length  of  years — the 
allotted  measure  of  existence — is  not  a  part.  Neither  is  his  that 
fame  which  comes  from  long  service,  faithful  ability,  ripened 
experience,  political  sagacity — that  tardy  acknowledgment  of 
great  qualities.  A  sudden  flash  across  the  political  horizon, 
then  as  suddenly  eclipsed.  Serving  only  in  the  Fiftieth  Con- 
gress, yet  in  that  brief  time  he  made  his  name  a  household 
word.  Mr.  FORD'S  sympathies  were  not  so  much  with  the 
prosperous  as  with  his  fellow-citizens  in  the  more  humble 
walks  of  life.  His  whole  aim  was  to  ennoble  and  elevate  cit- 
izenship, to  place  it  on  that  high  plane  which  would  insure 
permanency  and  safety  to  our  institutions. 

In  the  swarming  millions  flocking  to  our  shores  he  saw  dan- 
ger unless  the  baser  elements  could  be  excluded.  He  sought 


12         Address  of  Mr.  Youmans,  of  Michigan,  on  the 

a  remedy,  and  was  made  chairman  of  a  select  committee  "to 
inquire  into  the  alleged  violations  of  tin-  laws  prohibiting  the 
importation  of  contract  labor,  paupers,  convicts,  and  other 
classes."  I  need  not  say  how  well  that  work  was  done.  The 
startling  evidence  disclosed  was  commented  on  by  the  press 
throughout  the  land.  Almost  with  one  voice  a  correction  of 
the  evil  was  demanded. 

Elected  to  the  Fifty-second  Congress,  he  hoped  to  complete 
the  work  already  so  far  advanced.  But  suddenly  he  dropped 
the  burden  of  life  j  that  work  was  left  for  others  to  complete, 
and  when  completed  it  will  be  a  monument  to  him  outlasting 
"  storied  urn  or  animated  bust." 

In  Michigan  Mr.  FORD  always  possessed  the  confidence  and 
regard  of  his  party,  and  in  1889  they  honored  his  courage  and 
ability  by  making  him  their  candidate  for  United  States  Sen- 
ator. Butfewmen  have  climbed  higher  in  soshort  a  time.  The 
characteristic  of  Mr.  FORD'S  public  career  was  perseverance,  an 
inflexible  pursuit  of  well-considered  policy.  In  the  more  inti 
mate  relations  of  life  he  was  cheerful,  uniformly  kind,  and  gen- 
erous. His  friends  were  not  only  the  prosperous,  but  there 
were  many  in  the  more  humble  condition  of  life  who  looked  on 
him  not  only  as  their  champion  but  their  friend. 

His  sun  had  not  reached  the  meridian ;  in  his  early  manhood, 
at  his  home  in  Grand  Eapids,  in  the  forty-second  year  of  his 
age.  on  April  20,  1891,  "he  was,  and  then  was  not." 

Mr.  Speaker,  I  have  been  impressed  with  that  passage  in 
Forster's  Life  of  Goldsmith  describing  his  funeral: 

There  were  gathered  in  his  rooms  the  most  distinguished  men  of  the  age; 
hut  on  tin-  stairway  leading  to  his  rooms  in  I.ainli's  Court  tin-re  was  weep- 
ing and  mourning  hy  a  crowd  <>t'  tin-  poor  and  unfortunate  who  had  h.-cn 
recipients  of  his  bounty  and  liad  lost  their  only  friend. 

So.  too,  at  the  funeral  of  Mr.  FORD,  distinguished  men  tmin 
all  parts  of  the  great  and  prosperous  State  of  Michigan  were 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  13 

assembled;  but  there,  too,  was  many  an  humble  frieiid  mourn- 
ing him. 

It  was  so  sudden.  They  had  looked  forward  to  a  long  and 
brilliant  career;  surprised  and  sorrowing  that  so  early  in  life 
the  "pale  horseman"  had  crossed  his  path  and  beckoned  him 
to  enter  the  Valley  of  the  Shadow,  the  opening  of  which  is  an- 
other morn  than  ours. 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  MCMILLIN,  OF  TENNESSEE. 

Mr.  Speaker,  through  seven  terms  it  has  been  my  lot  to 
watch  the  comings  and  goings,  the  daily  walk,  the  success  or 
failure,  of  those  whom  our  sixty  millions  of  people  send  to  rep- 
resent them  in  this  Hall,  and  I  can  truly  say  that  in  all  that 
time  I  have  seen  no  young  man  come  here  who  seemed  more 
readily  to  comprehend  the  high  responsibilities  devolved  upon 
him,  or  who  more  intelligently  and  more  assiduously  dis- 
charged those  duties  than  did  the  noble  Representative  whom 
we  mourn  to-day.  He  came  at  that  time  of  life  when  all  is 
buoyancy,  all  hope,  all  anticipation. 

As  has  just  been  stated  by  his  distinguished  colleague  [Mr. 
Youmaus],  he  realized  the  dangers  that  threatened  his  coun- 
try, and  notwithstanding  the  trepidation  in  which  others  had 
shrunk  from  those  dangers  before  him,  and  in  which  others 
might  be  inclined  to  shrink  from  them  around  him,  he  came 
boldly  to  the  front  and  determined  to  try  if  it  were  possible  to 
enforce  the  laws  of  American  citizenship  so  as  to  keep  out  that 
incursion  of  criminal  and  other  classes  against  whom  the  laws 
had  already  setup  barriers,  but  barriers  which  were  being  con- 
stantly overridden.  His  action  in  that  regard  is  well  known 
to  the  country. 

I  remember  that  again,  when  the  tariff  bill  was  up  for  coil- ' 


1 4        Address  of  Mr.  McMillin,  of  Tennessee,  on  the 

sideration,  he  proposed  to  place  upon  the  free  list  aii  important 
article  of  manufacture — German  plate  glass.  He  came  here 
from  the  heart  of  a  great  manufacturing  community.  The 
beautiful  city  in  which  he  lived  had  been  originated  and  sus- 
tained and  made  prosperous  by  manufactures.  I  remember  it 
was  whispered  to  him  that  probably  the  course  he  was  taking 
was  not  the  best  to  commend  him  to  those  who  believed  in  a 
system  of  tariff  laws  supposed  to  be  inimical  to  his  proposition. 

In  a  conversation  that  I  had  with  him  he  said:  "I  care  not 
what  the  effect  on  me  may  be;  I  know  that  it  is  right  and 
that  greater  prosperity  will  come  by  reasons  of  such  an  enact- 
ment." His  arguments  were  so  cogent  tkat  they  convinced  his 
associates  and  his  proposition  was  made  a  part  of  the  bill  of 
that  year,  and,  although  that  bill  did  not  become  a  law,  if  he 
were  here  to-day  he  would  ascertain  that  within  less  than  six 
weeks  there  have  been  petitioners  to  the  number  of  40,000 
asking  that  this  Congress  do  what  he  attempted  to  do. 

Mr.  Speaker,  those  of  us  who  knew  him  well  and  knew  him 
but  to  love  him  have  lost  much.  His  State  lias  lost  more, 
because  to  her  he  was  not  simply  an  associate,  a  friend,  but 
one  of  her  pillars  and  stays.  But  his  country — the  extent  of 
which  he  fully  comprehended,  the  importance  of  whose  free 
institutions  had  a  dwelling  place  in  his  heart  and  an  intelli- 
gent dwelling  place  in  his  head — that  great  country  which  he 
served  with  such  distinction  here,  has  been  also  a  sufferer  in 
tliis  common  calamity. 

I  know  not  how  his  last  hours  were  spent.  F  know  noth- 
ing of  those  expressions  concerning  the  future  that  have  been 
commented  upon  by  his  colleague  who  first  spoke  [Mr.  O'Don- 
nellj.  But  if  a  man  is  to  be  judged,  as  we  are  given  to  hope 
he  will  be  judged,  by  every  good  deed  done  in  the  body — and 
of  this  I  have  no  doubt — his  lot  will  l>e  a  happy  »ne  in  the 
hereafter.  A  passage  that  has  struck  me  as  very  forcible,  and 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  1 5 

beautiful  is  that  between  Ion  and  Clemanthe,  where  she  asked 
him,  when  devoted  to  death,  trembling  before  its  uncertainties 
and  moved  by  the  sorrow  of  the  coming  separation,  whether 
they  would  ever  meet  again.  You  remember  that  in  substance 
he  replied : 

I  have  asked  that  dreadful  question  of  the  stars  that  are  eternal,  of  the 
rivers  that  everlastingly  flow,  but  they  were  all,  all  silent.  But  now,  as  I 
gaze  into  thy  beautiful  eyes  and  behold  the  depths  of  thy  pure  soul,  I  know 
there  is  that  there  which  can  not  wholly  perish.  We  shall  meet  again. 

So,  those  who  knew  the  honorable  life  of  our  departed  friend, 
his  intelligence,  his  soulful  nature  (if  I  may  use  that  expres- 
sion), his  comprehension  of  every  obligation  that  rested  upon 
him,  his  high  endowments  in  all  those  thousand  elements  that 
go  to  make  man  the  greatest  of  created  beings,  must  hope  and 
feel  that  there  was  that  there  which  can  not  wholly  perish, 
and  that  we  shall  meet  again. 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  HAYES,  OF  IOWA. 

Mr.  Speaker,  it  is  not  my  intention  to  attempt  to  pronounce 
any  eulogy  in  the  ordinary  sense  of  that  term  upon  Mr.  FORD, 
and  even  the  perhaps  necessary  details  upon  these  occasions 
may  well  be  left  to  his  State  colleagues;  but  from  the  stand- 
point of  personal  friendship,  and  in  view  of  the  high  esteem  and 
regard  in  which  I  held  him  and  do  hold  his  memory,  I  can  not 
let  the  occasion  pass  without  expressing  my  never-ceasing  sor- 
row at  his  untimely  death  and  paying  a  tribute  to  his  memory. 

We  never  met  until  we  came  together  in  the  Fiftieth  Con- 
gress, but,  owing  to  the  facts  that  we  were  born  and  reared  in 
the  same  locality,  were  connected  by  many  associations  in 
Michigan's  history,  and  had  a  host  of  mutual  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances, we  soon  came  together  and  became  the  closest  of 


16          Address  of  Mr.  Chipman,  of  Michigan,  on  the 

friends.  After  such  friendship  for  over  four  years,  I  can  well 
say  of  him  that  he  was  generous  to  a  fault,  noble  in  every 
quality  and  instinct,  honorable  always,  and  one  of  that  rare 
class  of  men  whose  friendship  never  faltered. 

From  a  public  standpoint  he  had  not  only  brains,  but  the 
courage  of  his  convictions,  indomitable  will,  ceaseless  energy, 
untiring  industry,  and  with  a  suavity  of  manner  and  force,  and 
eloquence  in  speech  that  made  him  carry  his  points.  This 
combination  of  good  qualities  made  his  future  a  bright  one 
for  himself  and  full  of  promise  to  his  people. 

In  his  death  his  country,  his  State,  his  party,  and  his  con- 
stituency suffered  an  irreparable  loss. 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  CHIPMAN,  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Mr.  Speaker,  a  year  ago  at  this  time  the  news  was  flashed 
throughout  the  State  of  Michigan  that  the  Hon.  MELBOURNE 
H.  FORD  was  dead.  It  was  unexpected,  and  in  that  great 
Commonwealth  it  produced  a  painful  shock ;  and  soon  at  his 
home,  on  the  banks  of  the  beautiful  Grand  River,  the  people 
of  the  State  gathered  together  from  all  sections,  the  high  and 
the  low,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  men  in  official  positions  and 
men  from  the  humblest  walks  of  life,  and  there,  amid  the 
wailing  of  funeral  marches,  the  tears  of  sorrow,  and  the  flowers 
of  affection,  they  buried  him.  They  left  him  in  the  kindly 
arms  of  Nature — to  the  sunlight  and  the  breezes,  to  mother 
Earth  herself. 

What  manner  of  man  was  he  who  was  consigned  to  the  tomb 
on  that  day?  He  was  alert;  he  was  decisive ;  he  was  a  man 
of  correct  thought  and  of  correct  methods  in  public  att'airs. 
He  was  a  man  of  firm  convictions;  and  it  must  be  said  to  his 
credit,  as  it  is  to  the  credit  of  every  man  of  whom  it  is  true, 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  1 7 

that  he  did  not  stop  to  determine  whether  those  convictions 
were  popular,  but  only  as  to  whether  they  were  right.  And 
so  it  happened  that  in  his  younger  life  when  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  house  of  representatives  of  the  Michigan  Legislature 
he  distinguished  himself  by  an  effort  to  restore  capital  punish- 
ment in  that  State. 

That  effort  I  did  not  approve  of;  but  as  to  the  learning,  the 
ability,  and  the  zeal  with  which  he  pursued  it,  there  can  be  no 
doubt.  It  attracted  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  him,  for  the 
reason  that  in  that  great  Commonwealth  there  is  practically 
but  one  opinion  on  the  subject,  and  it  is  that  the  taking  of  a 
life  for  a  life  is  still  murder.  So  that  he  bravely  opposed  him- 
self to  the  prevailing  sentiment  of  the  people  and  espoused  a 
cause  which  he  knew  to  be  unpopular.  This  is  true  heroism  in 
a  public  man  ambitious  of  public  preferment. 

Long  before  he  came  to  this  House  he  was  a  consistent  tariff' 
reformer.  Living  in  a  manufacturing  district,  and  in  a  manu- 
facturing State,  above  all  in  a  wool-producing  State,  he  had  the 
courage  of  his  convictions,  and  never  for  an  instant  hesitated 
to  pursue  the  path  of  tariff  reduction  to  which  his  judgment 
impelled  him.  At  that  time,  Mr.  Speaker,  his  position  on  that 
question,  as  it  had  been  upon  other  questions,  was  not  a  popu- 
lar one ;  but  he  clung  to  it  bravely  and  steadfastly  until  he  be- 
came a  member  of  this  House,  when,  as  you  know,  and  as  we 
all  know,  he  still  upheld  the  principle  for  which  he  was  con- 
tending. 

During  his  membership  of  this  House  he  became  interested, 
as  has  been  said  here  already,  in  the  question  of  immigration. 
The  evils  growing  out  of  the  coming  of  foreigners  to  our  shores 
struck  him,  as  they  have  struck  others,  as  being  of  a  most  seri- 
ous nature,  and  while  I  do  not  believe  that  he  had  any  preju- 
dice against  any  man  or  any  nationality,  or  any  race  who  came 
among  us,  still  he  felt,  and  he  felt  rightly,  that  this  great  coun- 
H.  Mis.  98 2 


18         Address  of  Mr.  Chipniau,  of  Michigan^  on  the 

try  should  not  be  made  the  asylum  for  the  halt,  the  lame,  the 
blind,  the  vicious,  and  the  criminal;  in  a.  word,  of  the  classes 
which  other  nations  desire  to  get  rid  of. 

I  am  sure  he  felt  that  the  honest,  the  healthy  immigrant  was 
a  welcome  guest  among  us,  and  his  arms  were  spread  out  to 
embrace  every  such  man  in  the  folds  of  American  citizenship. 
But  he  had  none  of  the  mawkish  sentimentality — an  instance 
of  which  has  recently  occurred  in  this  House — which  induced 
him  to  believe  that  there  is  any  tie  of  brotherhood,  that  there 
is  any  claim  of  philanthropy,  which  demands  of  the  hard- 
working people  of  this  country  that  they  shall  share  with 
everybody  who  chooses  to  come  to  us  their  means  of  subsist- 
ence, and  in  this  way  diminish  the  wages  of  their  own  labor 
and  the  comfort  of  their  own  homes. 

There  is  a  wrong  idea  abroad  on  this  subject.  We  are  told 
that  we  recently  violated  a  treaty  with  China.  Mr.  FORD  felt, 
as  I  feel,  that  there  is  no  power,  that  there  can  be  no  power, 
whether  it  is  called  the  treaty-making  power  or  other  power, 
which  will  permit  foreigners  in  immense  numbers  to  come  into 
this  country  as  mere  denizens,  as  temporary  sojourners  among 
us,  and  pluck  from  our  laboring  people  the  appropriate  rewards 
of  their  labor. 

The  idea  is  monstrous.  No  treaty  ever  meant  that.  No 
treaty  ever  could  mean  that.  And  while  it  is  perfectly  proper 
that  the  old  law  maxim  recognized  by  the  common-law  writers 
should  prevail,  and  be  respected  and  enforced  if  necessary  by 
treaties,  there  is  no  law,  there  can  be  no  law.  there  must  be  no 
law  by  which  we  share  our  crust  with  any  and  every  person, 
and  any  and  every  nation,  without  regard  to  their  intelligence, 
their  morals,  and  effect,  of  their  presence  upon  the  general  tone 
of  manhood  in  this  country. 

He  was  unfortunate  on  that  occasion,  union  unate  perhaps  in 
having  entered  upon  the  investigation  carried  on  by  the  com- 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  19 

mittee  which  took  his  name,  because  it  led  to  misconstruction 
and  subjected  him  to  criticism  which  his  motives  did  not  justify. 
He  was  unfortunate,  too,  in  that  the  measure  which  lie  brought 
into  the  House  as  the  result  of  the  investigation  was  not  accept- 
able to  the  House;  but  in  the  main,  in  his  noble  desire  to  pro- 
tect the  workingmen  from  improper  and  ruinous  competition, 
he  was  right,  and  sooner  or  later  he  will  receive  the  just  meed 
of  fame  which  belongs  to  being  right  upon  a  subject  of  so  great 
importance. 

It  is  among  the  mysteries,  Mr.  Speaker,  why  a  man  should 
live  to  the  age  of  promise  and  be  taken  from  us  when  he  was 
taken.  It  is  inscrutable,  and  we  wonder  what  has  become  of 
the  knowledge  he  has  garnered,  of  the  subtle  machinery  of.  his 
brain,  of  all  the  forces  which  made  him  what  he  was,  and  it  is 
only  with  the  certainty  that  in  nature  there  is  no  cause  with- 
out an  effect,  that  there  is  no  mistake  and  no  accident  in  any- 
thing which  nature  orders,  that  we  may  find  the  solution,  if 
we  can  find  a  solution,  of  that  enigma.  We  may  ponder  on 
what  might  have  been.  We  may  wonder  what  would  have 
been  the  setting  of  this  sun  which  rose  with  so  great  bright- 
ness if  it  had  run  its  course  to  the  twilight  hour. 

But  after  all  this  is  mere  vague  speculation.  We  can  know 
nothing,  we  can  only  hope.  And  yet,  Mr.  Speaker,  in  this  sea- 
son of  bud,  of  sunlight,  of  bloom  and  of  balm,  of  resurrected 
nature,  we  are  taught  that  death  is  bat  the  portal  of  another 
chamber  of  life.  There  must  be  a  hereafter.  Careers  of  such 
promise,  cut  so  short,  would  be  a  mistake  in  the  plan  of  na- 
ture if  there  is  not.  This  knowledge  garnered,  these  abilities 
so  subtly  fashioned,  must  have  an  expansion  and  a  field  some- 
where in  the  illimitable  future. 

And  so  it  is  not  given  to  us  to  know  whether  death  is  the 
enemy  of  man,  or  whether  it  is  a  ministering  angel,  bearing 
him  to  vaster  opportunity  and  to  greater  usefulness.  But  I 


20         Address  of  Mr.  Whiting,  of  Michigan,  on  the 

humbly  hope,  Mr.  Speaker,  that  that  grave  by  the  side  of  the 
beautiful  river  is  not  the  prison  house  of  our  friend;  that  he  has 
burst  the  earthly  cerements  of  that  tomb,  and  that  in  that  other 
state  where  eternal  opportunity  must  be  given  all  men  the  vir- 
tues which  characterized  him  here  have  brighter,  greater,  hap- 
pier play,  and  that  all  that  was  earthly  and  all  that  \vas 
wrong  in  his  character  here  dropped  from  him  u  like  a  worn- 
out  fetter  which  his  soul  has  broke  and  thrown  away."  Happy 
will  be  the  man  who  can  shed  the  dross  of  passion  and  earthly 
weakness  and  dwell  in  the  realms  of  hope  beyond  the  grave, 
habited  in  inauly  virtue  and  unclouded  intelligence. 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  WHITING,  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Mr.  Speaker,  words  can  but  feebly  convey  to  the  members 
of  this  House  the  real  sorrow  and  appreciation  of  loss  which 
the  sudden  death  of  Mr.  FORD  brought,  not  alone  to  the  people 
of  Grand  Eapids  and  his  district,  but  to  the  people  of  the 
State  at  large. 

I  believe  that  I  speak  within  bounds  when  1  say  that  a  gen- 
eral sentiment  prevailed  throughout  the  State  that  he  was  the 
most  promising  young  man  in  Michigan,  and  that  a  bright 
future  full  of  usefulness  and  honor  was  before  him.  These 
facts,  Mr.  Speaker,  intensify  the  sadness  of  his  untimely 
death  and  remind  us  of  the  importance  of  the  present  hour. 

My  acquaintance  with  him  was  confined  mostly  to  my  asso- 
ciations with  him  as  his  colleague  in  the  Fiftieth  Congress. 
We  often  consulted  each  other  upon  public  matters,  and  I  can 
now  clearly  recall  the  honest  earnestness  of  his  manner  when 
giving  expression  to  his  views,  and  his  solicitude  that  a  wise 
regard  for  all  should  govern  his  action.  I  recall  his  buoyancy 
of  spirit,  his  fondness  tor  public  life,  his  ease  and  adaptability 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H,  Ford.  21 

to  work  assigned  to  him,  and  his  active  participation  in  all 
that  transpired  upon  this  floor. 

I  recall  the  tribute  of  confidence  and  love  so  recently  and  so 
generously  bestowed  upon  him  by  the  people  of  his  district, 
and  the  pleasure  that  was  in  store  for  him  and  his  cheerful, 
loving  wife,  in  again  renewing  the  many  cordial  and  happy 
friendships  of  the  two  short  years  before,  and  so  to-day  am 
doubly  saddened  in  contemplating  the  change.  His  mortal 
career  ended,  his  life  work  done,  and  his  friends  sorrowing; 
but  with  it  comes  the  reflection  and  consciousness  thai;  an  All- 
wise  God,  not  man,  judges  the  frailties  and  the  virtues  of 
mortals,  and  that  His  Son  has  said : 

Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  My  brethren, 
ye  have  done  it  unto  Me. 

To  his  bereaved  family  we  can  give  the  assurance  that  we 
loved  him,  and  appreciated  his  worth ;  and  we  can  offer  the 
consolation  that  his  love  and  fidelity  to  his  fellow-men,  exem- 
plified in  all  his  public  acts,  will  stand  as  a  legacy  greater  than 
riches  and  more  valuable  than  length  of  days. 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  WEADOCK,  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Mr.  Speaker,  Napoleon  said:  "All  of  us  are  needed  a  little; 
none  of  us  are  needed  much."  I  might  paraphrase  this  and 
say  that  each  of  us  is  needed  but  little  in  the  great  arena  of 
the  world,  but  there  is  a  circle  in  which  each  one  is  needed 
very  much  indeed.  And  in  the  wider  assemblage  of  friends 
who  mourn  the  departure  of  our  deceased  colleague  there  is  a 
small  family  circle  that  can  never  be  the  same  again.  There 
is  a  widow,  and  there  are  orphans,  who  will  miss  as  long  as 
they  stay  on  eartli  the  kind  and  affectionate  love  and  compan 


22         Address  of  Mr.  Weadock,  of  Michigan,  on  the 

ionship  of  the  husband  and  father,  and  no  trophy  of  flowers, 
no  studied  eulogy,  and  no  honor  that  may  be  paid  to  our  de- 
parted brother  can  ever  atone  for  the  loss  which  they  have 
sustained. 

]$Tow,  it  is  said  of  so  many  that  they  were  born  and  they 
died.  Unless  more  can  be  said  of  a  man  than  that  he  was 
born  and  died,  it  were  better  that  nothing  should  be  said ;  but 
such  is  not  the  case  of  our  departed  colleague;  and  while  it 
may  be  proper  to  note  the  principal  facts  of  his  life,  we  do  it 
more  for  the  purpose  of  calling  attention  to  his  life  work  than 
for  the  mere  purposes  of  biographical  data. 

Mr.  FORD  was  born  in  Saline,  a  small  village  in  the  county 
of  Washtenaw,  near  the  city  of  Ann  Arbor,  the  seat  of  the 
great  University  of  Michigan.  At  10  years  of  age  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Lansing,  the  capital  of  the  State,  then  a 
struggling  village  in  the  wilderness,  now  the  bright  and 
thrifty  capital  of  a  great  and  prosperous  State.  He  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Agricultural  College  of  that  State,  a  few  miles 
distant  from  the  city  of  Lansing,  and  one  of  the  proud  monu- 
ments to  the  care  which  Michigan  gives  to  the  diversified  in- 
terests of  her  people.  Born  too  late  to  take  a  part  in  the  re 
bellion,  he  enlisted  near  the  close  of  the  war  in  the  United 
States  Navy,  and  served  for  a  brief  period. 

He  was  attached  to  the  European  squadron,  which  gave  him 
the  advantages  of  travel  and  that  knowledge  of  men  which  is 
only  gained  by  contact  with  them,  and  that  love  for  American 
institutions  which  can  best  be  strengthened  by  travel  and 
observation  among  the  people  of  other  lands.  As  the  years 
grew  on  he  studied  law  with  the  lirm  of  Longyear  &  Seager, 
in  the  city  of  Lansing;  but  he  did  not  then  undertake  the 
practice  of  that  profession.  Later  on  he  began  the  practice  <>!' 
the  hi  w,  being  associated  with  a  leading  firm  in  his  home  at 
Grand  Rapids. 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  23 

How  well  he  studied  and  how  closely  and  analytically  he 
mastered  the  great  principles  of  law  is  shown  by  the  fact  that 
while  yet  a  student  he  prepared  a  work  entitled  "  Ford's  Legal 
Analysis,"  which  may  be,  found  in  the  Library,  and  which 
shows  a  comprehensive  and  very  clear  understanding  of  the 
great  principles  which  underlie  the  system  of  jurisprudence. 
He  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  study  of  stenography,  and 
became  one  of  the  most  experj;  in  the  State.  He  was  stenogra- 
pher of  some  of  the  principal  courts  of  Michigan;  and  that  is 
a  very  important  calling,  one  requiring  skill,  honesty,  and 
integrity  in  a  marked  degree. 

In  1884  he  was  elected  by  the  Democracy  to  represent  the 
city  of  Grand  Kapids,  which  then  constituted  the  first  district 
of  Kent  County,  in  the  State  Legislature.  He  was  appointed 
upon  the  committees  on  private  corporations  and  on  the  uni- 
versity, two  very  important  committees.  He  was  faithful  in 
his  attendance  upon  the  sittings  of  the  Legislature,  and  espe- 
cially watchful  of  local  interests.  A  member  of  the  larger 
house,  the  first  occasion  when  I  saw  him  was  in  that  body. 
He  then  introduced  a  bill  for  the  restoration  of  capital  punish- 
ment in  Michigan,  which  had  been  abolished  many  years,  ex- 
cept for  the  crime  of  treason,  for  which  offense  it  still  exists 
on  the  statute  book  of  that  State. 

That  bill  was  introduced  a  few  days  after  the  beginning  of 
the  session  of  the  Legislature,  prescribing  the  punishment  of 
death  for  murder  in  the  first  degree  and  one  other  heinous 
offense  which,  under  our  statutes,  may  be  punished  the  same 
as  murder.  As  one  gentleman  has  well  said,  public  opinion 
was  believed  to  be  against  capital  punishment,  but  that  may 
be  a  misfortune,  because  I  think  the  offenses  named  in  the 
Ford  bill  can  only  be  adequately  punished,  so  far  as  they  can 
humanely  be  punished,  by  death.  The  house  of  representa- 
tives passed  the  bill  by  a  vote  of  59  to  29,  and  with  the  senti- 


24          Address  of  Mr.  Weadock,  of  Michigan^  on  ///<• 

ment  of  the  State  divided,  perhaps  more  than  one-half  against 
capital  punishment,  the  house  voted  for  it. 

This  certainly  was  a  signal  triumph  for  a  young  member, 
serving  his  first  term  in  the  Legislature.  The  bill  failed  in 
the  senate  of  the  State,  and  did  not  become  a  law.  He  turned 
his  attention  also  to  the  legislation  for  caring  for  juvenile 
offenders,  a  field  which  invites  the  serious  thought  of  every 
statesman,  who  feels  that  the  laws  relating  to  young  criminals, 
and  their  detention  and  punishment  in  our  jails  and  prisons, 
as  managed  at  the  present  time,  make  them  schools  for  crime 
rather  than  places  for  the  punishment  and  reform  of  offenders. 

The  municipal  courts  of  his  own  city  also  received  his  care 
and  attention,  and  he  succeeded  in  passing  a  bill  which  very 
largely  added  to  their  usefulness.  Another  law  which  he  cham- 
pioned was  one  to  prevent  frivolous  appeals  to  the  supreme  court 
when  the  amount  involved  was  less  than  $100.  Throughout 
the  State  of  Michigan  there  are  a  number  of  abstract  officers, 
who  charged  large  rates  for  the  abstracts  which  they  furnished 
concerning  titles  to  land.  He  recognized  that  these  abstracts 
of  titles  should  belong  to  the  public,  should  be  provided  at  pub- 
lic expense  and  furnished  at  cost  to  the  people.  To  that  meas- 
ure his  earnest  attention  was  given ;  it  was  another  move  in  the 
direction  of  relief  for  the  people  which  they  had  a  right  to  ex- 
pect and  which  it  would  have  been  a  pleasure  to  him  to  achieve. 
That  is  another  thing  that  among  the  many  acts  of  his  life 
endeared  him  to  everyone  who  knew  him. 

In  this  House  I  shall  say  but  little  with  reference  to  his  ca- 
reer. It  is  known  to  many  who  are  still  here.  Many  gentle- 
men who  served  with  him  upon  his  moat)' important  committee — 
the  Ford  Committee  on  Immigration — have  already  gone  to 
their  reward.  A  few  days  ago  \ve  listened  to  eulogies  on  oneof 
them,  Francis  Ii.  Spinola.  A  bright  young  man  from  Nebraska, 
the  late  Representative  Laird,  a  Michigan  boy,  who  had  gone 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  25 

to  the  West  and  was  returned  here  to  represent  his  people,  was 
one  of  his  dear  friends.  Another  bright  and  able  gentleman, 
the  very  pink  of  courtesy  in  this  House,  Geu.  William  H.  F. 
Lee,  was  also  one  of  his  near  neighbors  on  the  floor  of  the  Honse. 
The  able  leader  of  this  House,  Mr.  McMillin,  has  expressed 
himself  so  well  in  respect  to  the  ability  of  Mr.  FORD  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Congress  that  it  would  not  become  me  to  say  anything 
further  in  that  connection. 

In  the  campaign  of  1888,  when  Mr.  FORD  was  a  candidate 
for  reelection,  he  met  perhaps  the  most  terrific  opposition  that 
ever  was  arrayed  against  any  candidate  for  Congress.  The  Mills 
bill  had  operated  with  particular  severity  against  Michigan, 
and  in  the  campaign  of  that  year  the  personal  popularity  of 
Mr.  FORD  and  his  personal  following  were  not  sufficient  to 
stem  the  tide,  and  he  was  defeated,  but  in  the  succeeding  cam- 
paign the  same  friends  and  the  same  following  still  stood  by 
him,  undismayed  by  the  defeat,  and  he  was  elected  a  member 
of  this  body. 

In  1887  he  was  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  United  States 
Senator  against  Hon.  James  McMillan,  receiving  every  vote 
of  his  party,  an  honor  which  he  greatly  prized.  His  last  polit- 
ical service  was  to  act  as  secretary  of  the  State  convention  of 
his  party. 

Death  came  to  him  suddenly.  He  had  spent  the  evening  in 
communion  with  his  family,  and  had  retired  to  rest  in  his  usual 
health;  but  before  the  next  morning's  sun  arose,  his  lips  were 
sealed  forever.  Here  is  one  of  the  fatalities  almost  connected 
with  the  life  of  public  men.  They  live  at  such  a  high  tension, 
their  energy  seems  taxed  to  the  uttermost,  so  that  when  the 
death  blow  does  come,  it  comes  very  suddenly.  It  came  so  to 
Adams,  to  Hendricks,  to  Chandler,  to  Windom,  to  Caroenter, 
to  Beck,  and  many  other  gentlemen  whom  I  might  name. 


26          Address  of  Mr.  Weadock,  of  Michigan,  on  the 
Cicero  said : 

Some  men  make  a  womanish  complaint  that  it  is  a  great  misfortune  to 
die  before  our  time.  I  would  ask  what  time?  Is  it  that  of  nature?  Hut 
she  iudeed  has  lent  us  life  as  we  do  a  sum  of  money,  only  no  certain  day 
is  fixed  for  payment.  What  reason  then  to  complain  if  .she  demands  it  at 
pleasure  since  it  was  on  this  condition  that  you  received  it. 

It  may  be  well  for  us  to  remember  it,  for  it  may  come  to  us 
just  as  suddenly  as  it  came  to  him;  and  we  should  be  able  to 
say  with  Hamlet,  before  the  duel  with  Laertes : 

If  it  he  now,  'tis  not  to  come;  if  it  he  not  to  come,  it  will  he  now;  if 
it  he  not  now,  yet  it  will  come;  the  readiness  is  all. 

And  so  let  us  say  of  him  as  he  said  of  another,  Hon.  Seth 
C.  Moffatt,  a  former  member  of  this  House  from  the  State  of 
Michigan :  His  memory  will  not  die.  The  friends  Avho  loved 
him  in  life  will  revere  his  memory  in  death:  the  acts  of  his  life 
will  be  judged  with  clearer  judgment  than  they  could  possibly 
have  been  in  life. 

Let  me  say,  in  conclusion,  as  was  said  by  him  in  his  conclu- 
sion of  his  eulogy  of  Mr.  Moffatt: 


Our  friend  will  not  he  forgotten.  His  friends  will  ever  keep  his  mem- 
ory fresh  in  their  hearts.  And  when  the  glorious  summer  comes  and  the 
grass  grows  green  and  beautiful  and  the  Michigan  roses  blossom  on  his 
grave,  although  his  lips  will  be  hushed  in  death,  yet  the  tender  blades  and 
the  perfume  of  the  flowers  will  speak  of  him,  and  to  those  who  knew  him 
best  will  seem  to  say,  "Beneath  here  sleeps  one  who  was  kind  and  noble 
and  true." 

We  can  say  this  witli  all  sincerity  and  truth  of  our  departed 
colleague.  It  is  a  pleasing  thing  to  know  that  he  believed  in 
the  future.  There  is  a  remedy  for  all  the  disappointments  of 
this  life  in  the  belief  in  immortality,  and  that  the  higher  life  of 
mail  is  extended  beyond  this  earth.  And  we  ran  say  of  him 
who  has  solved  the  great  mystery  of  life  that  we  join  with 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  27 

him  in  his  belief  in  immortality,  and  we  hope  that  he  has  gone 
to  a  better  land,  to  that  abode — 

Where  love  hath  put  off  in  the  land  of  its  birth 

The  stain  it  hail  gathered  in  this ; 
And  hope,  the  sweet  singer,  that  gladdened  the  earth 

Lies  asleep  in  the  hosoin  of  bliss. 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  BELKNAP,  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Mr.  Speaker,  we  have  set  apart  this  day,  according  to  a  cus- 
tom that  has  prevailed  from  time  immemorial  in  the  House 
when  one  of  our  members  has  been  removed  by  death,  that 
the  surviving  members  may  pay  just  and  proper  tribute  to  the 
dead. 

MELBOURNE  H.  FORD,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  a  resi- 
dent of  the  city  of  Grand  Eapids,  Mich.  Born  in  Saline,  Mich., 
June  30,  1849;  was  educated  at  the  Michigan  Agricultural 
College,  and  at  the  United  States  Naval  Academy  at  Annap- 
olis, Md.  He  served  in  the  Navy,  enlisting  there  as  an  appren- 
tice September  10,  1864,  and  served  on  the  Sabine  and  the 
Colorado,  and  was  discharged  May  7,  1867.  He  was  then  ap- 
prenticed a  cadet  at  the  Naval  Academy  June  21,  1867,  and 
resigned  on  the  8th  day  of  January,  1868. 

Returning  to  the  State  of  Michigan,  he  became  official 
stenographer  to  several  of  the  courts,  meantime  studying  law. 
He  was  in  the  year  1878  admitted  to  the  bar,  but  did  not 
practice  law  until  a  short  time  before  his  death,  but  continued 
the  profession  of  stenography.  In  the  year  1885  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  State  Legislature  for  the  term  of  two  years, 
and  was  then  elected  a  member  of  the  Fiftieth  Congress,  and 
in  that  Congress  served  with  iidelity  upon  the  Committees  on 
Territories  and  on  Military  Affairs,  and  as  chairman  of  the 


28         Address  of  Mr.  Belknap,  of  Michigan,  on  the 

Select  Committee  on  Contract  Labor.  This  committee  was 
created  to  inquire  into  the  violations  of  the  laws  prohibiting 
the  importation  of  contract  laborers,  and  it  was  in  this  work 
that  he  attained  prominence. 

The  character  of  the  immigration  from  all  the  countries 
of  Europe  to  this  country  had  become  one  of  universal  com- 
ment. The  cities  of  the  country,  both  East  and  West,  were 
being  rapidly  filled  with  paupers  and  criminal  classes  of  the 
countries  of  the  Old  World,  becoming  an  unbearable  burden 
upon  the  people  of  our  land.  They  filled  the  charitable  insti- 
tutions of  the  different  communities.  The  prisons  were  full  of 
them,  and  the  costly  machinery  of  the  courts  rapidly  became 
a  burden  too  heavy  for  the  taxpayers  to  bear.  And  not  only 
were  the  cities  infested  with  this  undesirable  class  of  beings, 
but  the  country  districts  were  becoming  unsafe  on  account  of 
the  tramps  who  roamed  about  robbing  and  often  murdering 
the  defenseless  people. 

It  was  a  well-known  fact  that  European  governments  by  an 
organized  system  were  sending  their  criminals  to  this  country, 
and  not  only  the  criminals,  but  the  idiotic  and  insane  as  well. 
The  ship  that  came  freighted  with  a  thousand  honest  people 
would  also  contain  a  hundred  others  who  at  their  very  first 
step  upon  our  shores  became  a  burden  and  a  menace  to  our  in- 
stitutions. Of  this  class  many  came  here  with  no  other  design 
and  having  no  other  object  in  view. 

It  was  this  threatening  cloud,  this  plague,  that  seemed  to  be 
surely  undermining  the  people  of  our  own  country  that  brought 
Mr.  FORD'S  energy  to  the  relief  of  the  Commonwealth.  Quick 
to  perceive  the  danger,  he  put  the  wheels  in  motion  that  arc 
still  turning.  Starting  slowly  at  first,  like  the  wheels  of  a  large 
engine,  they  have  gained  in  speed  day  by  day  until  it 'seems 
the  problem  whether  our  own  people  are  to  be  enabled  to  enjoy 
this  grand  country  is  nearly  solved. 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  29 

Laws  and  rules  have  grown  out  of  this  agitation,  this  inves- 
tigation, so  that  at  the  present  time  many  of  the  undesirable 
classes  are  prevented  from  disgracing  our  soil  by  their  pres- 
ence. 

'Tis  sad  that  Mr.  FORD  could  not  have  lived  to  see  the 
results  of  his  work,  to  see  the  promise  of  the  day  when  the 
ship  coining  to  our  shores  with  a  thousand  souls  shall  contain 
but  law-abiding  and  self-sustaining  people.  He  expressed  a 
true  statement,  and  one  in  the  interest  of  all  patriotic  people, 
when  he  said  that  immigration  should  be  controlled  by  the 
General  Government,  and  not  by  any  one  State.  That  the 
subject  of  immigration  was  one  that  affected  all  our  people 
and  was  a  fit  subject  for  Federal  control. 

He  was  defeated  for  reelection  in  the  Fifty-first  Congress, 
and  two  years  later  was  elected  to  the  Fifty- second  Congress, 
but  was  suddenly  stricken  and  died  at  his  residence  in  the 
city  that  delighted  to  honor  him,  on  the  20th  day  of  April, 
1891.  Never  did  people  feel  more  keenly  the  loss  of  one  of 
their  own  than  did  the  people  of  the  Fifth  Congressional  dis- 
'  trict  of  Michigan. 

He  was  to  them  a  brother.  They  had  found  in  him  a  friend 
whose  heart  overflowed  with  generosity.  His  friends  love  to 
think  of  him  and  his  genial  ways.  Those  nearest  to  him  will 
never  lose  the  sad  pleasures  which  come  from  the  recollection 
of  scenes  brightened  by  the  sunny  side  of  nature  he  always 
presented.  Personal  characteristics  drew  friends  to  Mr.  FORD  ; 
his  individuality  kept  that  friendship. 

It  was  with  deep  sorrow  and  regret  that  the  people  of  our 
State  heard  of  the  death  of  my  Mend  and  predecessor,  and  to- 
day the  hearts  of  the  people  of  the  State  are  full  of  sorrow  and 
sympathy  for  the  bereaved  widow  and  children,  whose  hus- 
band and  father  was  cut  down  in  the  vigor  of  his  manhood  and 
in  the  midst  of  his  activity  and  usefulness.  His  death  is 


30         Address  of  Mr,  Belknap,  of  Michigan,  on  the 

deeply  deplored  by  his  constituents  and  by  the  State  which 
he  represented  in  part  with  undoubted  ability  as  a  member  of 
this  House.  But  he  is  gone,  Mr.  Speaker,  and  how  soon  we 
will  follow  none  of  us  know. 

To  all  appearances  one  day  before  his  death  Mr.  FORD  might 
count  upon  a  most  enviable  future  public  life.  He  had  an  ad- 
miring, unquestioning  constituency;  he  had  laid  broad  and 
deep  the  foundation  for  wide  influence  in  the  State.  To  the 
ordinary  view  few  men  had  better  promise  of  a  far-reaching 
political  career,  but  no  man,  Mr.  Speaker,  with  whatever  eagle 
eye  he  may  have  at  the  ocean  of  the  future,  can  tell  when  his 
voyage  may  be  interrupted.  He  of  whom  we  speak  to-day  was 
suddenly  taken  from  his  high  vantage  ground,  and  in  what  we 
call  his  untimely  eclipse  went  out  whatever  there  might  have 
been  for  him  otherwise  of  glory  and  honor  to  come. 

If  he  had  a  fault  it  was  due  to  his  generous  nature,  his  warm 
heart.  He  studied  to  please  men,  not  to  displease  them. 
He  often  wronged  himself  in  an  effort  to  satisfy  those  who 
called  for  his  assistance.  When  a  man  has  been  standing  for 
many  years  in  the  tierce  storms  and  lights  of  political  contro- 
versy it  is  generally  forgotten  that  he  has  any  individuality, 
private  life,  or  character,  except  such  as  has  been  imposed 
upon  him  by  political  allies  or  opponents.  P.ut  in  the  rough- 
and-tumble  battle  of  politics  and  servitude  to  the  people  his 
most  pleasing  trait  was  his  social,  genial  manner.  Always 
cheerful  and  humorous,  he  tried  to  strew  the  pathway  of  his 
friends  with  flowers. 

The  best  portions  of  a  man's  lite  are  the  little  unnumbered 
acts  of  kindness  and  charity  that  one  Muds  opportunity  to 
bestow  every  day  in  the  course  of  active  life.  Some  men  tire 
out.  some  men  wear  out,  as  the  days  tly  and  the  years  pass  by : 
some  men  go  backward,  or  »irop  behind  in  the  race  of  life; 
some  j^row  dull  and  prosy  as  they  »TOW  in  years,  while  others 
grow  young  in  action  and  in  heart  as  the  hat  ties  of  life  by  day 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  31 

and  mouth  are  met.  But  an  intelligent  people  will  never 
willingly  let  die  the  deeds,  the  kind  acts,  and  the  good  words 
of  an  honest  man.  Wheu  a  man's  days  are  numbered  there 
comes  after  his  death  a  judgment. 

Mature  and  society  pass  in  a  kind,  yet  in  a  just,  survey  upon 
each  completed  life.  However,  in  this  world  we  live  in  deeds, 
not  years;  we  live  in  thoughts,  not  breaths;  in  feelings,  not 
figures.  He  lives  most  who  thinks  most.  He  who  acts  the 
best  feels  the  noblest.  Our  deceased  friend  counted  life  by  the 
heart  throbs,  and  not  by  the  measured  standard  of  months 
and  years.  To  all  appearance  he  had  just  reached  the  sum- 
mit of  his  strength.  He  seemed  equipped  to  undertake  labo- 
rious tasks ;  never  so  well  fitted  to  serve  his  constituents  and 
his  country.  He  did  not  perceive  the  enemy  that  was  watch- 
ing his  every  step  and  his  every  hour  of  life.  To  him  the  end 
seemed  far  distant.  He  thought  to  see  the  sun  go  down  in  the 
evening,  the  flowers  to  wither  in  the  fall,  the  river  to  be  fro- 
zen in  the  winter;  not  that  the  sun  should  go  down  at  noon, 
and  the  flowers  wither  in  the  summer,  and  the  stream  of  life 
frozen  before  the  chill  of  old  age. 

Mr.  Speaker,  life  is  a  golden  ship,  with  sails  of  angels' 
wings.  It  comes  to  the  shore  freighted  with  an  assorted  load 
for  man  to  select  from.  Youth  going  for  the  gifts  may  select 
roses  with  thorns,  or  the  flowers  of  the  fields,  fragrant  and 
sweet.  He  may  select  jewels,  rare  and  precious,  or  he  may 
load  himself  down  with  the  baser  metals,  that  will  burden  him 
through  all  his  days  on  earth.  Who  is  to  guide  the  untrained 
hand  that  reaches  for  a  share  of  the  precious  load1?  Someone 
has  said  that  life  is  a  casket  of  jewels,  and  that  God  holds  the 
key.  If  this  be  true,  and  I  believe  it  is,  then  God  often  un- 
locks the  casket  and  gives  to  mankind  many  rare  jewels.  Not 
gifts  to  be  kept  and  worn  for  all  time,  but  gifts  for  a  day,  to 
adorn  and  light  the  paths  of  the  universe. 


32         Address  of  Mr.  Belknap,  of  Michigan,  on  tJic 

The  one  day  of  life  given  to  the  insect  of  the  air  is  a  life  of 
activity.  The  life  of  a  season,  or  a  brief  year  of -a  plant  or 
flower  of  the  field  or  forest,  is  a  life  of  fragrance  and  useful- 
ness to  all  mankind.  The  life  of  the  birds  of  the  air,  brief  in 
years,  is  a  life  of  song,  of  love  for  its  young,  and  of  thank 
fulness  to  its  Creator  for  the  breath  of  life  it  is  permitted  to 
have. 

The  life  of  man  is  also  but  a  span,  but  a  brief  atom  of  time; 
but  he  who  makes  the  most  of  that  brief  space  lives  the  most, 
and  best  returns  to  his  Creator  remuneration  for  the  jewels 
out  of  the  great  and  beautiful  ship  of  life. 

O  Death !  Hadst  thou  but  spared  the  life  that  we  this  day 
lament. 

The  sunset  splendors,  laded  now  and  dead; 
So  have  we  seen  the  hopes  of  youth  decay ; 
Oh,  ruddy  rose,  that  erst  did  blush  so  red! 
Thou,  too,  didst  have  too  brief  a  summer's  day. 

The  thought,  Mr.  Speaker,  leads  me  back  to  the  day  when  he 
was  a  youth,  and  set  out  to  hew  his  way  to  a  place  among  men ; 
and  thus  do  I  see  him : 

The  sun  had  set. 

Then  beamed  the  evening  star  beyond  the  crags. 
The  evening  wind  sighed  like  a  wearied  child, 
And  night  fell  like  a  mist  upon  the  earth. 
He  sank  to  sleep;  before  him  in  his  dream* 
Three  radiant  forms  in  moonlit  beauty  stood. 

Love,  Fortune,  Fame*  were  they ;  the  three  most  fair 
His  eyes  had  ever  seen,  or  thought  to  see, 
As,  on  the  Mount  of  Ida  years  ago, 
Three  goddesses  in  goddess  beauty  stood, 
*  Olympian  in  loveliness  and  grace, 

And  bade  the  shepherd  make  his  choice 
The  while  they  bribed  him  enviously  with  gifts. 
So  stood  those  radiant  forms  upon  the  mount, 
And  while  the  moonbeams  trembled  on  the  steep, 
As  oft  in  ancient  times  <m  Latinos'  heights 
They  trembled  on  Kndymion's  snowy  brow, 
Addressed  him  as  lie  lay  in  sleep. 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  33 

First  Fortune  spoke:  "O,  youth,  choose  me,"  she  cried; 

"I  know  where  gold  is  hid,  whose  sunny  shine 

Is  loved  by  all  men  more  than  they  can  tell. 

I  know  where  gems  await  my  favorite ; 

Pure,  lucent  diamonds,  glittering  like  stars. 

Imperial  rubies,  red  as  blood, 

And  all  the  lesser  jewels,  which  to  name 

Were  tedious  task."  « 

Then  Love,  blushing  like  the  dawn, 

Addressed  him  words  caressingly : 

"Choose  me,"  she  said,  "and  happiness  that  lasts    • 

Long  as  the  constant  stars  shall  be  thy  lot. 

Sweet  courtesy  that  makes  one's  life  worth  while, 

That  adds  a  grace  to  kings,  and  makes  the  serf 

A  mate  for  kings,  shall  brighten  all  thy  days." 

Then  Fame  took  up  the  word,  and  with  a  smile : 

"Choose  Fortune,  child?"  she  said;  "she  hath  wings, 

And  nies  away  as  lightly  as  she  comes; 

And  if  she  stay,  what  profit  doth  she  bring? 

She  gives  no  honor :  'tis  gold  that  wins  when 

Fortune  takes  her  flight.    Now  tell  me,  pray, 

Where  be  those  cringing  things  of  parasites 

That  fatten  oil  a  lordling's  store? 

Flown  like  a  vulture  when  their  feast  is  done. 

And  as  for  Love,  I  grant  you  she  is  fair; 

So  are  the  sunset  days  that  fade  to  gray ; 

So  is  the  wild  rose  that  must  wither  soon; 

So  is  the  pebble  shining  in  the  stream ; 

Love  is  a  dream,  my  child,  a  fitful  dream." 

"O  Fame!"  he  cried,  ''I  choose  thee;  thou  art  best." 

And  then  he  awoke.     Pale  star-shine  on  the  crags, 

And  that  was  all.     Such  was  the  dream. 

He  climbed  adown  the  mountain  side, 

Unto  the  shores  of  the  roaring  sea,' 

Great  billows  with  majestic  onrush  swept 

Like  a  conquering  army  to  the  hostile  shore. 

Within  a  sheltered  cove  a  pinnace  lay, 

Equipped  for  sea,  and  lifting  up  her  chain 

He  stepped  aboard  and  set  sail. 

All  day  he  sailed  and  fainter  grew  the  land ; 

Night  came,  and  one  by  one  along  the  coast 

The  light-house  beacons  flashed  their  messages, 

Then  one  by  one  faded  from  his  sight. 

H.  Mis.  98 3 


34  Address  of  Mr.  Hclknap,  of  Michigan. 

So  vale  and  forest,  mountain  side  and  sea. 
Were  traversed  in  a  hopeless  search  for  fame, 
Whose  form  appeared  not,  save  in  fleeting  dreams. 
When,  after  calms  and  storms  upon  the  main 
His  voyage  had  reached  the  ocean's  utmost  hound, 
Upon  the  shore  he  met  an  aged  man, 
To  him  told  the  story  of  his  search. 
"O,  youth,"  the  aged  man  low-voiced  replied, 
"There  is  one  more  noble  than  the  'mystic  three.' 
Though  fair  is  Fortune  with  her  yellow  gold ; 
Though  sweet  is  Love  if  she  he  true ; 
Though  grand  is  Fame,  and  eloquent  her  voice; 
Fame,  Fortune,  Love,  less  nohle  all  than  one 
Whose  name  is  Duty.     Serve  her  day  by  day, 
And  happy  if  with  chastened  life  and  pure, 
Thou  quit  thyself  as  knight  of  Duty  ought; 
Fame,  Fortune,  Love,  and  all  that  men  hold  dear, 
Will  follow  surely  as  the  azure  sky. 
For  he  who  gives  his  life  at  Duty's  call, 
Lives  while  he  dies,  and  conquers  in  defeat; 
And  he  who  loves  the  right  more  than  all  else, 
Shall  win  at  last  the  eternal  crown  of  life." 

Then  can  we  say : 

Cover  the  embers 

And  put  out  the  light; 
Toil  comes  with  the  morning 

And  rest  with  the  night. 

The  book  is  complete 

And  closed  like  the  day ; 
And  the  hand  that  has  written  it 

Lays  it  away. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  BELKNAP,  the  resolutions  wore  adopted; 
and  the  House  then,  in  pursuance  thereof  (at  4  o'clock  p.  in.), 
adjourned. 


PROCEEDINGS  IN  THE  SENATE. 


DECEMBER  22, 1891. 

Mr.  MCMILLAN.  I  ask  that  the  resolutions  of  the  House  of 
Eepresentatives  relative  to  the  death  of  my  late  colleague  in 
that  House,  Hon.  MELBOURNE  II.  FORD,  be  laid  before  the 
Senate. 

The  VICE-PRESIDENT.  The  Chair  lays  before  the  Senate  the 
resolutions  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  which  will  be 
read. 

The  Secretary  read  as  follows : 

Whereas  the  House  has  heard  with  profound  sorrow  of  the  death  of 
Hon.  MELBOURNE  H.  FOKD,  late  a  Representative  from  the  State  of  Mich- 
igan: Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  his  memory  the  House  do  now  ad- 
journ. 

Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  be  directed  to  communicate  this  action  to  the 
Senate. 

Mr.  MCMILLAN.  Mr.  President,  I  offer  the  resolutions 
which  I  send  to  the  desk  and  ask  for  their  adoption.  I  give 
notice  that  I  shall  on  some  suitable  occasion  in  the  future  ask 
the  Senate  to  pause  in  its  business  to  pay  fitting  tribute  to  the 
life  and  public  services  of  my  late  colleague. 

The  VICE-PRESIDENT.  The  resolutions  submitted  by  the 
Senator  from  Michigan  will  be  read. 

The  Secretary  read  the  resolutions,  as  follows : 

Resolved,  That  the  Senate  has  heard  with  deep  sensibility  the  announce- 
ment of  the  death  of  Hon.  MELBOURNE  H.  FORD,  late  a  Representative 
from  the  State  of  Michigan. 

Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  communicate  this  resolution  to  the  House 
of  Representatives. 

35 


36  Proceedings  in  tJic  Senate. 

The  VICE-PRESIDENT.  The  question  is  on  agreeing  to  the 
resolutions. 

The  resolutions  were  agreed  to  unanimously. 

Mr.  Me  MILL  AN.  As  a  further  mark  of  respect  to  the  mem- 
ory of  the  deceased,  I  move  that  the  Senate  do  now  adjourn. 

The  motion  was  agreed  to;  and  (at  1  o'clock  and  17  minutes 
p.  m.)  the  Senate  adjourned  until  to-morrow,  Wednesday, 
December  23,  1891,  at  12  o'clock  meridian. 

FEBRUARY  4,  1893. 

Mr.  STOCKBRIDGE.  I  ask  that  the  message  from  the  House 
of  Representatives  announcing  the  death  of  Hon.  MELBOURNE 
H.  FORD  may  be  laid  before  the  Senate. 

The  PRESIDING  OFFICER.    The  message  will  be  read. 

The  Secretary  read  as  follows  : 

Ix  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES.  April  !>,  1S9.\ 

Resolved,  That  the  business  of  the  House  he  now  suspended,  that  oppor- 
tunity may  he  given  for  tributes  to  the  memory  of  the  Hon.  MELBOURNE 
H.  FORD,  late  a  Representative  from  the  State  of  Michigan. 

Resolved,  That  as  a  particular  mark  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  de- 
ceased, and  in  recognition  of  his  eminent  abilities  as  a  public  servant.  tin- 
House,  at  the  conclusion  of  these  memorial  proceedings,  shall  stand  ad- 
journed. 

Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  communicate  these  resolutions  to  the  Senate. 

Hi-wired,  That  the  Clerk  be  instructed  to  send  a  copy  of  these  resolutions 
to  the  family  of  the  deceased. 

Mr.  STOCKBRIDGE.  I  offer  the  resolutions  which  I  send  to 
the  desk. 

The  PRESIDING  OFFICER.     The  resolutions  will  be  read. 
The  Secretary  read  as  follows  : 

Rcsolrtd,  That  t  lie  Senate  receives  with  sincere  regret  the  announcement 
of  the  death  of  the  Hon.  MKMKH  KM:  II.  I'oiin.  late  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  from  the  State  of  Michigan,  and  tenders  to  the 
family  of  the  deceased  the,  assurance  of  their  sympathy  with  them  under 
the  bereavement  they  have  been  called  upon  to  sustain. 

Hi-snh-ril,  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Senate  l>e  directed  to  transmit  to  the 
family  of  Mr.  Koi:i>  a  ccrtilied  copy  of  the  foregoing  rcsolut  ion. 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  37 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  STOCKBRIDGE,  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Mr.  President,  in  the  full  flush  of  early  prime,  at  the  begin- 
ning of  what  would  have  been  a  great  career,  and  just  after 
a  remarkable  demonstration  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  him 
by  the  people  of  his  State  and  district,  Hon.  MELBOURNE 
HADDOCK  FORD,  Representative  in  Congress  from  the  Fifth 
district  of  Michigan,  was  called  from  this  earth. 

It  has  fallen  to  the  lot  of  but  few  of  the  many  distinguished 
men  whom  Michigan  has  sent  to  represent  her  in  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States  to  acquire  such  great  and  genuine  popu- 
larity with  the  masses  of  her  people  as  that  which  was 
awarded  to  the  late  Representative  FORD.  His  career  was 
short,  but  successful  almost  beyond  precedent  in  the  State's 
political  history.  His  death  was  sudden,  but  painless.  His 
funeral  was  an  ovation  to  his  memory. 

It  was  my  pleasure  to  be  long  and  well  acquainted  with  the 
deceased  Representative.  Although  we  were  not  of  the  same 
political  faith,  and  his  signal  and  repeated  successes  were  dis- 
advantageous to  the  political  organization  of  my  association, 
I  shared  in  the  general  pride  with  which  the  people  of  Michi- 
gan observed  his  steady  advance  to  national  distinction. 

Mr.  FORD  was  a  native  of  the  State  he  afterward  honored  in 
public  life  and  in  whose  service  he  died.  He  was  born  at 
Saline,  Washteuaw  County,  Mich.,  June  30,  1849.  It  is  un- 
necessary to  give  the  details  of  his  youth  or  his  younger  man- 
hood. In  his  boyhood  he  had  the  hard  labor  and  practical 
experience  incident  to  farm  life.  Afterward  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Lansing,  the  capital  of  our  State,  and  he  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Agricultural  College,  located  there. 

He  enlisted  in  the  naval  service  of  the  country  during  the 


38       Address  of  Mr.  Stockbridge,  of  Michigan,  on  the 

war,  and  served  with  gallantry  for  something  over  a  year. 
After  his  return  to  his  home  in  Lansing  lie  was  appointed, 
through  the  favor  of  the  lamented  Hon.  John  W.  Longyear,  of 
Michigan,  long  a  distinguished  Representative  in  Congress, 
to  a  position  as  cadet  in  the  Naval  Academy  at  Annapolis. 
An  affection  of  the  eyes  prevented  a  completion  of  his  course 
at  this  institution,  and  undoubtedly  changed  his  subsequent 
career. 

Returning  to  Michigan  he  was  some  time  engaged  as  a  drug- 
gist in  the  city  of  Charlotte,  but  soon  afterward  he  turned  his 
attention  to  the  profession  of  phonography.  He  grew  to  be  an 
expert  and  one  of  the  most  successful  shorthand  writers  in  this 
country.  He  was  long  engaged  as  stenographer  in  the  higher 
courts  of  western  Michigan.  At  the  same  time  he  studied  law, 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  acquired  some  prominence  as  an 
active  practitioner.  He  was  the  author  of  "Ford's  Legal  Analy- 
sis," a  small  but  standard  legal  work.  After  he  had  entered 
political  life  he  retired  from  the  stenographic  practice  and  was 
an  active  attorney  at  law.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a 
member  of  the  well  known  Grand  Rapids  law  firm  of  M>>,Garry 
&  Ford. 

Mr.  FORD  was  always  popular  in  the  enterprising  city  which 
he  afterward  represented  in  Congress.  He  was  in  many  respects 
typical  of  that  remarkable,  bustling,  energetic,  and  prosperous 
city.  His  entry  into  political  life  was  almost  accidental,  and 
his  remarkable  success  in  the  public  service  was  achieved  with- 
out original  intention  or  preparation  for  it.  He  was  always  an 
active  member  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  was  in  the  fall  of 
1SS4  chairman  of  a  city  convention  to  nominate  candidates  for 
tlic  Legislature. 

To  his  surprise,  he  was  nominated  by  acclamation  as  the  first 
choice  of  the  convention,  and  was  handsomely  elected.  It  did 
not  take  Mr.  FORD  long  to  establish  his  position  as  a  leader  in 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  39 

the  Legislature.  His  party  was  in  the  minority,  but  it  is  no 
discredit  to  his  associates  of  the  majority  to  say  that  he  was  a 
genuine  leader  from  the  first  day  of  the  session.  He  entered 
upon  his  duties  with  honesty  and  energy  and  carried  them  out 
with  enthusiasm  and  ability.  He  was  identified  most  promi- 
nently in  this  session  of  the  Legislature  with  an  effort  for  the 
restoration  of  capital  punishment  in  Michigan. 

Capital  punishment  had  been  unpopular  for  a  long  time,  and 
efforts  for  its  restoration  had  theretofore  been  overwhelmingly 
defeated,  but  Mr.  FORD'S  effort  was  responsible  for  a  great 
alteration  in  public  sentiment,  and  while  his  bill  did  not  become 
a  law,  he  pressed  it  with  such  vigor  that  from  that  time  there 
has  been  a  very  material  and  recognized  change  in  public  opin- 
ion upon  the  subject.  Mr.  FORD'S  experience  and  prominence 
acquired  in  the  Legislature  led  to  his  being  early  discussed  as 
a  candidate  for  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1886.  Although  his 
district  went  Eepublican  on  the  general  ticket  that  year,  Mr. 
FORD  was  elected  to  Congress  by  a  very  comfortable  plurality. 

Mr.  FORD'S  service  began  with  the  Fiftieth  Congress.  Be- 
fore the  close  of  the  first  half  of  his  term  he  had  taken  a  very 
prominent  rank  in  the  House  of  Representatives.  He  had 
been  originally  appointed  on  some  of  the  most  important  com- 
mittees of  that  body,  and  was  early  in  his  service  placed  at 
the  head  of  a  special  committee  of  the  House  to  investigate 
the  question  of  immigration,  to  which  he  had  given  much 
attention  for  several  years. 

This  committee  visited  important  cities  in  all  parts  of  the 
country,  acquired  a  mass  of  useful  information,  and  made  a 
complete  and  satisfactory  report  to  the  House.  His  work  on 
this  committee  and  his  efforts  generally  in  Congress  rendered 
him  very  popular  in  his  district.  He  was  renominated  for  the 
Fifty-first  Congress.  In  the  election  which  followed  the 
Republican  party  swept  the  district  and  Mr.  FORD  was  beaten 


40       Address  of  Mr.  Stockbridge,  of  Michigan,  on  the 

by  a  very  large  majority,  but  his  continued  popularity  was 
demonstrated  by  the  fact  that  he  ran  very  far  ahead  of  his 
ticket.  His  defeat  seemed  only  to  emphasize  his  popularity 
and  to  give  him  renewed  prominence  in  his  party. 

When  the  Legislature  met,  in  the  ensuing  January,  to  elect 
a  successor  to  Hon.  Thomas  W.  Palmer,  in  this  body,  Mr. 
MELBOURNE  HADDOCK  FORD  received  the  complimentary  vote 
of  all  of  the  Democratic  members  of  both  houses  of  the  Legis- 
lature for  that  position. 

In  midsummer  of  1890  Mr.  FORD  was  made  chairman  of  the 
Democratic  State  Convention  held  in  the  city  of  Grand  Eapids, 
which  nominated  the  first  successful  State  ticket  of  that  party 
in  the  period  of  thirty-seven  years. 

Later  in  the  year  he  was,  for  a  third  time,  nominated  by  ac- 
clamation for  Congress.  Notwithstanding  his  defeat  of  two 
years  before,  he  entered  the  campaign  with  great  vigor  and 
spirit,  and  the  popular  confidence  in  him  was  once  again  dem- 
onstrated by  his  overwhelming  return  as  a  Eepresentative- 
elect  in  the  Fifty-second  Congress.  His  position  now  seemed  to 
be  secure.  It  was  believed  by  his  partisans  and  friends  that 
he  was  now  to  enter  upon  a  continuous  and  successful  career 
in  the  House  of  Representatives.  He  began  faithfully  pre- 
paring himself  for  this  work  of  his. 

In  the  spring  of  1801  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
resolutions  of  the  Democratic  State  Convention.  This  was  his 
last  public  service.  On  the  14th  day  of  April,  1891,  the  people 
of  Grand  Rapids  and  of  the  State  of  Michigan  were  univer- 
sally shocked  at  the  news  of  his  sudden  and  altogether  unex 
pected  death.  He  passed  a  \va.v  at  the  early  age  of  41,  having 
achieved  unusual  success  and  having  come  to  a  position  of 
foremost  prominence  in  the  a  Hairs  of  his  Commonwealth. 

Mr.  FORD  was  generous,  gallant,  and  chivalric.  He  was 
brilliant,  brave,  a-id  patriotic.  In  public  life  he  honored  the 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  41 

State  which  honored  him.  His  loss  was  keenly  felt  by  the  peo- 
ple of  his  city,  by  his  friends  everywhere  in  Michigan,  and  by 
his  colleagues  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  who  had 
hoped  to  renew  the  acquaintance  and  enjoy  the  society  of  this 
able,  energetic,  honest,  and  conscientious  rnau. 

All  that  was  mortal  of  our  late  associate  lies  in  a  beautiful 
grove  dedicated  to  the  dead,  in  the  niidst  of  that  hive  of  life 
and  industry,  the  city  of  Grand  Rapids.  But  we  have  abso- 
lute faith  in  the  divine  assurance  that  we  may  hope  that  such 
men  do  not  fail  to  live  again.  Serene  confidence  in  the  future 
life  was  a  characteristic  of  our  dead  friend. 

The  first  remarks  that  he  ever  made  in  Congress  were  upon 
an  occasion  like  this,  when  the  House  of  Representatives  paid 
tribute  to  one  of  his  dead  associates  from  our  State.  His  ex- 
pressions of  hope  and  confidence  in  the  continued  life  of  that 
dead  colleague  have  a  sweet  savor  to  us  now,  for  in  his  words 
we  can  ourselves  express  the  faith  that  he  will  live  again. 

Sooner  or  later — 

He  said — 

the  Augel  of  Death  comes  to  us  all.  That  there  is  a  hereafter  every  man, 
it  seems  to  me,  must  believe.  I  can  not  conceive  how  anyone  with 
human  instincts  can  think  otherwise.  If  there  exists  a  person  who  hon- 
estly believes  that  when  his  eyes  are  closed  in  death  nothing  remains, 
such  a  person  is  to  be  pitied.  When  dust  is  rendered  into  dust  is  all 
ended?  No;  I  have  something  here  in  my  innermost  soul  which  tells  me 
that  this  life  is  not  the  end ;  that  beyond  all  this  we  have  a  wider,  a  higher, 
a  nobler  destiny.  There  lies  in  the  human  breast  a  something  which  says, 
"That  is  not  all."  What  an  encouraging  hope,  what  a  divine  thing  it  is 
for  this  world,  this  belief  in  future  existence ! 


42         Address  of  Mr.  Darnel,  of  Virginia,  on  the 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  DANIEL,  OF  VIRGINIA. 

Mr.  President,  the  character  of  the  living  may  be  estimated 
by  the  measure  of  respect  which  they  pay  to  their  dead. 

Humaii  life  is  the  most  splendid  and  most  wonderful  manifes- 
tation of  the  Creator's  power.  Earth  and  heaven  are  married 
in  its  being.  It  is  the  most  sacred  as  it  is  the  most  beautiful 
and  interesting  of  all  earthly  things.  Its  close,  whether  by  the 
slow  degrees  of  fading  strength,  or  by  the  sudden  stroke  of  dis- 
ease, or  by  the  violent  hand  of  force,  is  the  most  shocking  and 
appalling  of  all  the  catastrophes  of  nature,  and  the  most  inscru- 
table manifestation  of  our  Creator's  will. 

We  can  not  grow  familiar  with  death.  The  distance  between 
us  and  it  may  be  brief  in  fact,  but  it  must  ever  seem  remote 
and  far  apart  from  us  as  long  as  we  dwell  in  the  land  of  the 
living.  Its  mystery  can  not  be  penetrated.  Its  dignity  can  not 
be  belittled.  We  can  not  contemplate  it  save  with  awe  and 
reverence.  We  can  never  know,  until  at  least  the  veil  is  lifted, 
the  meaning  of  its  dispensation.  Yet  we  may  trust  and  hope. 

Day  by  day  our  friends  depart.  Here  as  members  of  small 
bodies,  like  the  House  of  Representatives  and  the  Senate,  we 
witness  as  upon  a  narrow  field  the  process  of  swift  transitions 
and  dissolving  scenes.  Men  chosen  by  the  people,  spirits  vali- 
ant, gifted  with  light  and  power  and  prowess,  come  to  dischar^v 
their  delegated  missions.  They  deliver  their  messages  and  dis- 
appear. Some  are  retired  by  changes  of  popular  opinion,  some 
of  their  own  volition,  some  by  the  final  fate,  but  in  a  little  while 
all  are  gone. 

Yet  the  scene  is  as  busy  as  ever  before.  There  are  no  vacant 
chairs.  The  great  stream  of  natural  life  tlo\\s  \\ith  increasing 
depth  and  volume,  and  few  even  of  the  greatest  who  have  floated 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford,  43 

on  its  surface  leave  behind  them  any  proud  monument  or  shin- 
ing token  of  their  days. 

But  it  does  not  follow  that  their  work  was  not  important  or 
that  it  was  not  ably  and  faithfully  performed. 

It  does  not  follow  that  their  names  are  not  worthy  to  be  cher- 
ished with  gratitude  and  homage. 

The  deeds  that  hold  society  in  cohesion  and  harmony  and 
guide  its  forces  to  increasing  prosperity  are  those  of  the  mass 
that  toil  and  think  in  their  appropriate  spheres.  To  do  to- 
day's work  and  let  it  go  for  its  worth  is  not  less  the  task  of  the 
great  than  of  the  small.  Whether  it  shine  or  no,  whether  it 
be  heralded  or  no,  all  the  same  it  has  become  a  factor  for  good, 
and  is  having  its  influence  in  shaping,  expanding,  and  pre- 
serving the  public  weal. 

Yesterday  we  mourned  a  sage  of  the  Senate  from  my  own 
State  who  had  suddenly  vanished  from  our  side  full  of  years 
and  honors.  To-day  South  Dakota,  in  the  far  Northwest,  and 
South  Carolina,  the  land  of  the  Palmetto,  have  bent  side  by 
side  over  their  dead. 

And  now  we  mourn  the  young  and  brilliant  son  of  Michigan, 
who  was  stricken  down  like  a  knight  on  the  lists,  while  his 
fiery  heart  was  all  aglow  with  the  fury  of  battle  and  his  weap- 
oned  arm  was  lifted  in  the  press  of  conflict. 

MELBOURNE  HADDOCK  FORD  was  born  in  that  young  and 
vigorous  Commonwealth  which  sent  him  here,  and  which  has 
sent  to  our  National  Council  so  many  statesmen  full  of  the 
intellectual  force  and  social  grace,  and  of  the  energy  and  ear- 
nestness that  have  characterized  its  progressive  and  enlight- 
ened civilization.  He  was  a  characteristic  representative  man 
of  that  aspiring  and  achieving  people,  and  his  had  been  a  busy 
and  eventful  life. 

Whatever  his  hand  had  found  to  do  he  had  done  with  his 
might,  and  his  brief  career  was  crowded  with  deeds  that  be- 
spoke his  fertile  genius. 


44          Address  of  Air.  Daniel,  of  Virginia,  on  tJic 

Born  in  1849,  he  had  hastened  while  yet  a  boy  to  become  a 
defender  of  the  flag  that  floated  over  his  people,  and  which 
was  sent  forth  to  battle.  I  respect  him  for  it.  Heentevcd  t he- 
naval  service  just  before  the  close  of  the  civil  war  with  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  ingenious  youth  who  throughout  this  land 
heard  the  drum  beat,  and  instinctively  sought  the  ranks. 

As  he  laid  aside  the  sword  and  the  echoes  of  strife  died  away, 
he  took  up  the  general  tasks,  the  love,  the  hope  of  peace,  and 
its  constructive  duties.  A  clerk,  a  druggist,  a  stenographer, 
a  lawyer,  an  author,  a  politician,  a  State  legislator,  twice  a 
member  of  Congress,  the  choice  of  his  party  for  United  States 
Senator  and  receiving  its  support — these  successive  rounds  of 
the  ladder  he  mounted — and  while  his  face  full  of  hope  still 
looked  upward,  and  his  strong  hand  was  stretched  upward,  lo! 
death  touched  him  and  he  fell.  Warm  affections  and  great 
interests  and  high  hopes  concentrated  their  dreams  around 
him,  which  now,  alas!  can  only  pour  their  sorrows  upon  his  all 
too  early  tomb. 

I  can  not  speak  of  Mr.  FORD  from  the  standpoint  of  intimate 
association  with  him.  To  recite  his  private  virtues  is  the  pleas- 
ing part  of  those  who  knew  him  better  than  myself  and  it  has 
been  well  performed.  But  this  I  observe  in  his  career  that 
discloses  his  character  on  its  marked  and  stronger  features. 
Success  had  rewarded  his  efforts — he  had  been  a  member  ol' 
the  State  Legislature,  and  then  of  the  House  of  Representa 
tives  in  the  Fiftieth  Congress.  In  that  Congress  he  took  de- 
cided positions  upon  public  issues. 

Some  of  his  views  were  unpopular.  He  was  defeated  and 
relegated  to  private  life.  The  spell  of  his  successive  victories 
was  broken.  But,  nothing  daunted,  hereenteied  the  political 
field  in  1890.  He  firmly  and  boldly  advocated  the  doctrines 
which  commanded  his  loyal  convictions.  The  people  discovered 
in  him  the  staunch,  true,  leader:  and  now  triumphing  upon 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  45 

the  field  that  he  had  lost,  he  was  reflected  a  member  of  the 
Fifty-second  Congress  of  the  United  States.  Well,  might  we 
apply  to  him  the  warrior's  boast : 

Call  me  not  shamed  who  am  but  overthrown ; 
Thrown  have  1  been,  not  once  but  many  a  time. 
Victor  from  vanquished  issues  at  the  last, 
And  overthrower  from  being  overthrown. 

Before  that  Congress  assembled  the  victor  was  dead  upon 
his  shield.  This  I  observed  in  Mr.  FORD  while  he  was  in  the 
public  service  here. 

He  was  full  of  push  and  energy,  and  grasped  his  duties  with 
a  comprehending  mind  and  a  firm,  industrious  hand. 

He  seemed  tireless  in  his  efforts  to  press  to  success  the 
measures  confided  to  his  care.  I  saw  him  on  his  appearance 
before  committees  and  in  his  tasks  upon  the  floor  of  the  House. 
I  realized  that  there  was  a  man  in  earnest,  no  trifler  with  things 
he  had  to  deal  with,  a  spirit  resolute  and  restless,  determined 
to  do  or  die. 

I  shall  not  prolong  this  poor  and  imperfect  tribute  save  to 
add  this  thought:  Mr.  FORD  belonged  to  that  class  of  thought- 
ful, courageous,  industrious  men — well  informed,  justly  am- 
bitious, with  high  ideals  and  patriotic  purposes,  who  correctly 
interpret  the  genius  of  this  day  and  generation,  and  who  are 
destined  to  lead  and  mold  it. 

The  freshness  of  youth  was  in  his  mind  and  heart.  He  bore 
upon  his  soul  no  burdens  from  the  past  which  so  lacerated  it  as 
to  impair  its  generous  impulses;. and  he  entertained  no  preju- 
dices which  belittled  his  stature,  clouded  his  reason,  or  im- 
peded his  pathway. 

Had  he  lived  his  career  would  have  shed  larger  honor  upon 
the  State  which  gave  him  to  the  service  of  the  nation,  and 
grown  into  greater  brightness  around  his  name. 

Cut  off  even  as  he  ripened  for  the  great  tasks  that  kindled 


46         Address  of  Mr.  McMillan,  of  Michigan,  on  the 

his  geuius  and  his  ambition,  we  can  but  bow  to  the  wisdom 
and  power  of  our  Maker  who  has  so  decreed  and  say,  "  Thy 
will  be  done."  Yet  we  take  to  heart  the  lesson  that  is  left  to 
enrich  our  annals  in  the  life  of  this  noble  young  American 
statesman,  who  followed  his  faith  with  fidelity,  who  did  his 
deed  with  courage,  and  who  now  released  from  labor,  sleeps 
well. 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  MCMILLAN,  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Mr.  President,  at  the  capital  of  the  nation  and  in  the  halls 
of  Congress  more  than  anywhere  else  the  fact  of  man's  mor- 
tality is  impressed  upon  the  mind.  Seemingly  few  and  brief  are 
the  intervals  when  from  all  the  public  buildings  and  from  the 
doors  of  both  the  House  and  the  Senate  the  black  badge  of 
mourning  is  absent.  To-day  the  Senate  has  been  called  to  pay 
its  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  a  young  man,  a  man  who 
was  apparently  just  entering  on  a  career  of  large  usefulness 
to  his  State  and  nation.  Trained  at  the  Naval  Academy  for 
service  in  the  great  straggle,  the  war  was  ended  before  he 
could  see  active  duty. 

The  return  of  peace  led  Mr.  FORD  to  seek  success  in  civil 
life.  His  brightness  and  industry  are  sufficiently  indicated 
when  it  is  said  that  he  attained  a  high  reputation  in  the  diffi- 
cult and  laborious  profession  of  stenography.  His  popularity 
led  to  his  election  as  a  member  of  The  Michigan  State  Legisla- 
ture, ;iii(l  his  service  there  was  of  so  satisfactory  a.  character 
as  to  lead  the  people  of  the  Fifth  district,  which  includes  the 
great  manufacturing  and  commercial  city  of  Grand  Kapids, 
to  send  him  to  the  House  of  Representatives. 

During  his  tirst  term  in  that  body  lie  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  the  country  to  his  work  in  investigating  the  subject  of 


Life  and  Character  of  Melbourne  H.  Ford.  47 

immigration.  Defeated  for  reelection,  after  an  interval  of  two 
years  lie  was  again  elected  to  Congress,  but  died  before  lie 
could  take  his  seat.  The  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  his 
own  party  throughout  the  State  was  shown  by  the  fact  that 
tour  years  ago  he  was  the  caucus  nominee  of  the  Democratic 
members  of  the  Legislature  for  the  office  of  United  States 
Senator. 

Such  in  brief  is  the  record  of  a  man  who  had  crowded  into 
the  forty-two  years  of  his  life  experiences  remarkably  varied. 
The  death  of  such  a  man  is  a  loss  to  his  State,  and  in  Mich- 
igan the  mourning  for  him  was  widespread.  In  the  beautiful 
city  of  Grand  Rapids,  where  Mr.  FORD  made  his  home,  the 
grief  was  deep  and  sincere. 

It  is  fitting,  therefore,  that  the  Senate  put  on  record  its  ap- 
preciation of  Mr.  FORD'S  services  in  behalf  of  his  State  and 
his  country  ;  and  although  my  own  personal  acquaintance 
with  him  was  slight,  I  appreciate  the  opportunity  to  pay  this 
tribute  to  the  worth  of  one  whose  reputation  is  a  source  of 
ride  to  every  citizen  of  Michigan. 

Mr.  President,  I  move  the  adoption  of  the  resolutions. 
The  resolutions  were  unanimously  agreed  to. 


THE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  SANTA  CRUZ 

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